Apparatus for removing ballast from between crossties



Oct. 24, 1961 R. G. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR REMOVNG BALLAST FROM BETWEENCROSSTIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March l1, 1960 Oct. 24, 1961 R. G.KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR REMOVNG BALLAST FROM BETWEEN CROSSTIES 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March ll, 1960 Oct. 24, 1961 APPARATUS FOR REMOVINGBALLAST FROM BETWEEN CROSSTIES Filed March ll, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ig5 INVENTOR.

Royce G. Hellfd LU Y Qmm I orneys nited States Patent O A 3,005,274APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM4 BETWEEN CROSSTIES Royce G. Kershaw,Montgomery, Ala., assgnor to Kerilavlr; Manufacturing Company, Inc., acorporation of a ama Filed Mar. 11, 1960, Ser..N0. 14,333

, 12 Claims. (Cl. 37-104) This invention relates to apparatus forremoving ballast from the upper surface of and between the crossties ofa railroad track and more particularly to such apparatus in which meansis provided to support a digging implement frame for continuous slidingmovement along the upper surface of crossties.

Heretofore, in cribbing apparatus for removing ballast from betweencrossties, the digging units have been wheels with attachments thereonmounted in an implement frame. Due to the rigid nature of such priordigging units it has been necessary for the operator to raise thedigging tools when passing fromcrib to crib.

By the present invention, apparatus is provided to remove ballast frombetween crossties either between the rails or in the area of a removedrail comprising digging implements in the form of exible lengths of wirerope or the like mounted for rotation about an axis generally a diggingunit having flexible tools is mounted for rota-` tion about an axisgenerally normal to the crossties and a skid of a length sutlicient tospan a pair of crossties supports the digging tools for sliding movementfrom one crib to the next, the flexible diggers simply sliding acrossthe crossties. i

`A further object of the present invention is to provide means tosupport a brush-like digging implement over the" crossties in the areaof a removed rail, which means slides along the crossties and isadjustable vertically to determine Ithe height of the implement relativetothe crossties.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide apparatus inwhich a skid for sliding along the upper surface of the crossties ismounted between a pair of brush-like implements to support theimplements over the crossties, the skid being of a length to span a pairof adjacent crossties.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illus-` trated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of my ballast removing apparatusmounted for movement along one rail of a railroad track with the otherrail removed;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. l lookinggenerally along the line 2--2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the digging implement frameof the apparatus shown in FIGS. l and 2l and showing a pair of spacedbrush-like digging implements with a skid positioned therebetween tolimit the Working depth of the implements; and

FIG. 4 is a schematicview of the fluid system of my apparatus. j

Referring now to the drawings for a better understand` ing of myinvention, I show ballast removing apparatus comprising a railwayvehicle with a vehicle frame indicated generally by the numeral andhaving a pair of double llanged wheels 11 and 12 thereon riding on arail 13 which is supported on crossties 14. Ballast B supports crossties14.

A gasoline engine or other power source 16 is mounted 2 1 on frame 10and drives a fluid pump 17 (see FIG. 2) by belt 18. Pump 17 suppliesfluid through suitable lluid lines (not shown) to fluid motor 19.` Fluidmotor 19 drives wheel 12 through gear box 21 and chain 22. Chain 22passes over sprockets 23 on the output shaft of gear box 21 and the axleof wheel 12. Thus, to propel the vehicle along rail 13, uid motor 19 isenergized and wheel 12 is driven thereby. When the apparatus is inoperable cribbing position, one of the rails is removed and it isdesirable to have double flanged wheels to ride on the remaining rail tokeep the apparatus from sliding oif the rail. Y i

A digging implement frame indicated generally by the numeral 26 issecured to cross members 25 of frame 10 and is disposed in the area ofthe removed rail on one end of vehicle frame 10. Frame 26 comprises apair of implement housings 27 disposed on opposite ends of` frame 26. Tocounterbalance the weight. of the imple-` ment frame, counterweights 30are disposed on the opposite end of vehicle frame 10 and thereby tend tobalance vehicle frame 10. An implement shaft 28 is sup ported by frame26 and is driven by engine 16 through a mechanical drive. 16 by belts 31which extend between drive pulley 32 on engine 16 and pulley 29. ACrossshaft 33 is drivenfrom pulley 29 secured thereto and cross shaft 34 isdriven from shaft 33 by chain 36 passing over sprockets 37 on shafts 33and 34. Shaft 28` is driven from cross shaft 34 by a chain 39 passingover sprockets 41 on shafts 28 and 34. Engine 16 is provided with asuitable centrifugal clutch which engages at a predetermined enginespeed.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the implement shaft 28 is mounted in bearings42 which Aare secured to the frame- 26. A reel 43 is secured to each endof shaft 28 and comprises end plates 44 and 46. Angles 47 extend.

between and are secured to the end plates 44 and46.. Ballast diggingimplements or elements indicated generally by the numeral 48 are securedto angles 47 byy cover plates 49 having grooves therein. Cover plates'49 are secured to angles 47 by suitable nuts and bolts (not shown).

Each of the elements 48 comprises a length of rubber hose 52 securedabout a length of wire rope 53. The rope may be slightly longer 'thanthe rubber hose 52 to extend therefrom for engaging ballast.

A vertically extending plate 56 is mounted on frame 26 with crossmembers 55 secured to plate 56 at one end thereof and to the undersideof frame 26 at the opposite ends thereof. End supports 57 secure plate56 at its ends to frame 26. A skid 62'is mountedV on plate 56 and isvertically adjustable thereon. Skid 62 com prises a runner 60 and avertical support member 65 extending therefrom. Plate 56 to whichsupports 55 and 57 are secured has studs 63 extending therefrom to litin vertically extending slots 61 in member 65. Suitable nuts may bepositioned over studs 63 to secure skid 62 -to plate 56. Skid 62supports the frame 26 by engaging the upper surface of crossties 141thus to limit the working depth of the digging tools. Runner 60 is of alength to span at least two adjacent crossties. The average crosstie isabout 8 inches wide with a 13 inch space or crib between adjacentcrossties. Thus, the center line to center line distance betweenadjacent crossties is around 2l inches. The skid is normally of a lengthabout 24 inches with the reels 43 being spaced slightly over 24 inchesto allow skid 62 to be easily positioned therebetween. The reels 43 areof a length from the outer surface of plates 44 and 46 of around l2inches. The center line distance from one reel 43 to the other reel 43is about 37 inches. Thus, the flexible digging ele-` ments 48 on thereels 43 are of a length to reach in the Patented oct. 24, 1961 Pulley29 is driven from engine crib between adjacent crossties and cover awidth ap- I proximately equal to the crib between adjacent cross,- ties14. As the digging elements 48 move over a crosstie they are bent uponengagement with the crossties but easily pass over the crossties to theadjacent cribs as elements 48 are of a flexible nature.

A handle 66 is provided at the outer end of each housing 27 and supports67 secure handle 66 to housing 27. Handle -66 is provided on each end ofthe apparatus so that an operator may move along the track with theapparatus and control the movement thereof in either direction oftravel. A valve 68 is positioned on the upper support 67 to control theactuation of iluid motor 19 for propelling the vehicle along the track.Valve 68 is detachable and may be positioned adjacent either of thehandles 66 depending on the direction of travel of the apparatus. Theoperator normally walks behind the apparatus as itis moving along thetrack.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a schematic diagram of the fluid system isindicated. Reservoir 69 supplies fluid to pump 17 through supply line71. Pump 17 supplies uid to control valve 68 through line 73 and valve68 controls reversible fluid motor 19 through control lines 74. Fluid isreturned to reservoir 69 from motor 19 and valve 68 through return lines72.

In operation, skid 62 is set at the desired height by adjusting itrelative to the supporting plate 56. This controls the digging depth ofelements 48 relative to the tops of the crossties 14. Gasoline engine 16is started and upon reaching a predetermined rpm., shaft 28 is driventhrough pulley 29 and cross shafts 33 and 34. Then, the operator of theapparatus who is positioned at one of the handles 66 actuates controlvalve 68, energizing iiuid motor 19 and driving wheel 12 therebypropelling the apparatus along the rail 13. Runner 60 slides along theupper surface of crossties 14 and the operator merely walks along behindthe apparatus as it is moving along the existing rail and assures thatthe skid 56 does not catch on any crossties or other obstructions. Ifany ballast is on the upper surface of the crossties the front implementunit sweeps the crossties.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that I have provided apparatusto remove ballast from between existing crossties comprising flexibledigging elements or implements mounted for rotation about an axisgenerally parallel to the track and having a skid sliding along theupper surface of the crossties to support the implements as theapparatus is moved along the track. The skid is adjustable vertically todetermine the height of the implements relative to the crossties andsupports the implement frame on the crossties. The skid is of a lengthto span at least a pair of adjacent crossties so that it will slideeasily therealong without catching on any of the crossties.- Due to theflexible nature of the digging tools it is not necessary to raise thesame when moving from crib to crib, as heretofore was the case with therigid wheel type cribbers. With my improved apparatus the diggers areflexible enough to permit movement from crib to crib with the skidresting on the crossties.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for removing ballast from cribs between crossties of arailroad track, comprising a main frame having wheels to ride on thetrack, a digging implement frame over the crossties, a brush-likedigging unit mounted for rotation on said implement frame on an axisgenerally normal to the crossties and having flexible members thatextend below the crossties to dig ballast from the cribs, and means onthe implement frame to support the same i from the upper surface of thecrossties for movement across the crossties from one crib to the next.

2. Apparatus for removingballast from cribs between crossties of arailroad track, comprising a main frame having wheels to ride on thetrack, an implement frame over the crossties and mounted over said mainframe, a digging unit mounted for rotation on said implement frame on anaxis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the crossties, diggingimplements on said unit of a length to extend below the upper surface ofthe crossties for digging ballast between the crossties, said diggingimplements being flexible to pass over the crossties without anyvertical movement of the implement frame as the apparatus moves alongthe track, and means on the implement frame engaging the upper surfaceof the crossties in sliding relation to support said implement frame formovement from one crib to the next.

3. Apparatus for removing ballast from cribs between crossties of arailroad track, comprising a mainframe having wheels to ride on thetrack, an implement frame on an end of said main frame, an axle mountedon said implement frame and extending in a direction generally normal tothe longitudinal axis of the crossties, a rotary digging unit mounted onsaid axle for rotation, means to rotate said axle and digging unit,digging implements on said unit of a length to extend below the uppersurface of thecrossties in the cribs between adjacent crossties to digballast thereat, said digging implements being exible to pass over thecrossties from one crib to the next without any Vertical movement oftheimplement frame, and a skid mounted on the implement frame to supportthe same forV sliding movement over the upper surface of the crossties,said skid being of a length to span at least two adjacent crossties.

4. Apparatus in claim 3 in which said skid is mounted for verticaladjustment whereby the digging depth of the digging implements relativeto the crossties may be adjusted.

5. Apparatus for removing ballast from cribs between crossties of arailroad track in the area under a removed rail comprising a main framehaving wheels to ride on one rail only of the track, an implement framemounted on an end of the main frame over the crossties in the area ofthe removed rail, a digging unit mounted for rotation on said implementframe on an axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of thecrosstie, digging elements on said unit of a length to extend below theupper surface of the crossties for digging ballast between thecrossties, said digging elements being flexible to pass over thecrossties without any vertical movement of the irnplement frame as theapparatus moves along the track, and means on the implement frameengaging the upper surface of the crossties in sliding relation tosupport said implement frame movement from one crib to the next.

6. Apparatus for removing ballast from cribs between crossties of arailroad track, comprising a main frame having wheels to ride on thetrack, an implement frame extending from the main frame over thecrossties, a pair of aligned digging units mounted on said implement,frame for rotation on an axis generally normal to the longitudinal axisof the crossties, said digging units being spaced from each other atleast the distance between two adjacent crossties, digging implements oneach ofsaid units of a length to extend below the upper surface of thecrossties in the cribs between adjacent crossties to dig ballastthereat, said digging implements being exible to pass over the crosstiesfrom one crib to the next without any vertical movement of the implementframe, and a skid mounted between the digging units to support theimplement frame for sliding movement along the crossties. Y

7. Apparatus for removing ballast from cribs between crossties of arailroad track, comprising a main frame having double anged wheels toride on the track, Ymeans t9 drive one of said wheels to propel saidapparatus along the track, an implement frame extending from the mainframe over the crossties, a pair of generally aligned rotary diggingunits mounted on the implement frame on longitudinal axes extending in adirection generally parallel to the track and being spaced from eachother at least the distance between two adjacent crossties, means torotate the digging units, digging implements on each of said units of alength to extend below the upper surface of the crossties in the cribsbetween adjacent crossties to dig ballast thereat, said diggingimplements being flexible to pass over the crossties from one crib tothe next without any vertical movement of the implement frame, and askid mounted on the implement frame between the digging units forsliding movement over the upper surface of the crossties and supportingthe implement frame thereon.

8. Apparatus for removing ballast from the cribs between crossties of arailroad track, comprising a main frame having double flanged wheels toride on the track, means to drive one of said wheels to propel saidapparatus along the track, an implement frame extending from the mainframe over the crossties, a pair of generally aligned rotary diggingunits mounted on said implement frame on longitudinal axes extending ina direction generally parallel to the rails and being spaced from eachother at least the distance between two adjacent crossties, means torotate the digging units, digging implements on each of said units of alength to extend below the upper surface of the crossties in the cribsbetween adjacent crossties to dig ballast thereat, said diggingimplements being exible to pass over the crossties from one crib to thenext without any vertical movement of the implement frame, and a skidmounted on the implement frame between the digging units for slidingmovement over the upper surface of the crossties to support theimplement frame thereon, said skid being of a length at least equal tothe distance between adjacent crossties.

9. Apparatus for removing ballast from the cribs between crossties of arailroad track in the area under a removed rail comprising a main framehaving double flanged Wheels to ride on one rail of the track, means todrive one of said wheels to propel said apparatus along the track, animplement frame extending from the main frame over the crossties to thearea of the removed rail, a pair of generally aligned digging unitsmounted for notation on said implement frame on longitudinal axesextending in a direction generally parallel to the rails and beingspaced from each other at least the distance between two adjacentcrossties, means to rotate the digging units, digging implements on eachof said units of a length to extend below the upper suriace of thecrossties in the cribs between adjacent crossties to dig ballastthereat, said digging implements being ilexib'le to pass over thecrossties from one crib to the next -without any vertical movement ofthe implement frame, a housing extending over each of said digging unitsand thereby deiiecting ballast thrown upwardly by the diggingimplements, and a skid secured to said implement frame and extendingbetween the digging units to space the units at least the length of theskid, said skid being of a length to span two adjacent crossties andsliding over the upper surface of the crossties to support the implementframe thereon.

10. Apparatus defined in claim 9 in which said skid is mounted forvertical adjustment thereby to determine the digging depth of thedigging implements.

11. Apparatus defined in claim 9 in which gripping means are provided ateach end of said implement frame adjacent the digging units wherebyworkmen may aid in guiding said apparatus along the track.

12. Apparatus dened in claim 9 in which counterbalance weights arepositioned on a side of the main frame opposite said implement framewhereby workmen may easily move said implement frame.

References Cited in the nle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,414,767 Praytor Ian. 21, 1947 2,416,241 Stratton Feb. 18, 19472,463,499 Thornley Mar. 1, 1949 2,505,501 Miller Apr. 25, 1950 2,534,880Praytor Dec. 19, 1950 2,727,263 Dangremond Dec. 20, 1955 2,929,084Kershaw Mar. 22, 1960

